Chat with Survivor finalist Ken Hoang

Welcome to The Show! On Friday, Major League Gaming player, and finalist on Survivor: Gabon, Ken Hoang will stop by to chat about his experience in the MLG and in Survivor.

Hoang is a former MLG professional gamer and contestant on Survivor: Gabon. One of the greatest Super Smash Bros. Melee players of all-time, Ken won championships with Major League Gaming in 2005 and 2006. Recently, Ken extended his tactical play as a contestant on Survivor: Gabon, finishing in fifth place and leaving his mark as one of the most strategic masterminds in Survivor history.

Buzzmaster

(4:00 PM)

We've got Ken!

Rachel Russo Philadelphia PA

Which was harder? Becoming a master of Smash or playing Survivor? PS. Your awesome and I was rooting for you the whole time on Survivor.

Ken Hoang

(4:01 PM)

I would definitely say playing Survivor on TV. Survivor is a much harder experience. You have to survive all aspects of the game, surviving out there, living in the environment and playing the game. In playing games, you are living more a life of luxury than in Survivor.

Dustin (Kentucky)

Ken what are your opinions on Brawl? Also if MLG did pick it up for the 09 season would you consider Competing?

Ken Hoang

(4:02 PM)

I think Brawl is more a simplistic version of Melee. I don't hate it, but I think Brawl is a great game. If MLG decides to pick it up, I might come back for it.

Dustin Vernal, UT

Hey Kenny! I was just wondering what advice would you give to someone who was thinking about auditioning for Survivor?

Ken Hoang

(4:03 PM)

I think if anybody wants to audition, they have to be themselves. Send in the video tape. Be yourself. You dont want to be too high tech. Just tell Survivor why you can be the ultimate Survivor and why you can play the game and win it. Just show them what you can do.

kirsybuu, San Leandro, California

What would you have done differently in those final days?

Ken Hoang

(4:04 PM)

Definitely, I got a little too overconfident in the end. I thought I could trust everyone and they could trust me. I shouldn't have tried to call the shots. I should have sat down. I was thinking about making the final three and winning. I was thinking too far down the road. I was thinking about my jury speech and everything like that.

Brandon S. (Augusta, GA)

Do you think being on Survivor has helped you build more trust in your gaming career, and help you with quicker thinking?

Ken Hoang

(4:05 PM)

I think being on Survivor, maybe it will help my gaming career. I was thinking every day out there. If you compare that to gaming, you have to think really fast. It makes you aware more. If I compare Survivor to gaming, it would help me analyze my opponents better. I underestimated my opponents.

Zach (Indiana)

What would you say was your best strategic move in Survivor?

Ken Hoang

(4:06 PM)

I think the best move had to be when Crystal and I convinced Susie to flip. That turned the tides of the season. Convincing her to flip was huge. We got plus one in our numbers and they had minus one.

John, WA

Which would you rather be master of smash or winner of Survivor: Gabon

Ken Hoang

(4:07 PM)

I would rather be a winner of Survivor: Gabon. That was a dream for me to be a winner of Survivor. I would much rather be the sole survivor and win that title.

James from Dearborn Heights Michigan

What are your plans now that survivor is done? Will you still be playing in smash bros. Melee/Brawl tournaments or do you have something else planned for your future as a gamer? And when are you coming to Michigan, there are really good players that you should play against especially around Ann Arbor's neighborhood and in Inkster.

Ken Hoang

(4:08 PM)

After Survivor, I just played the ultimate game. When I got back, I played in a Smash tournament and got second place. After that, I decided to take a big break from gaming. Pursue my career in illustration and finish college. I don't really plan ahead in life. Just let life take me where it does. That's how I'm thinking right now.

North Port FL

Wuts it like to be a pro gamer then going out to the wild to survive????

Ken Hoang

(4:09 PM)

To be a pro gamer out there, people view you differently out there. A lot of them were talking about the stereotypes of gamers and they were telling me that I didn't fit those stereotypes. I am not an outdoorsman, but I kind of got the gist of it after 10 days out there. I adapted out there. You have to adapt as a gamer. That's how it was like.

Kigbariom (New Delhi, India)

Did you realize how far your influence to the gaming world reached? Most of the people in India know you're name.

Ken Hoang

(4:11 PM)

Actually, when I got on the show, I didn't even think about the fame, but when I got back, people started recognizing me. I don't know how far it reached, but I am pretty popular in the gaming world. Before, people didn't know anything about gaming and now they're checking it out. It influenced more people that didn't know about the field. I think it's good for professional gaming.

John (NY)

What was it like to be voted off? Were you anticipating it or was it a complete blindside? What did you think of Ponderosa?

Ken Hoang

(4:12 PM)

I got blindsided when Crystal got voted off. Out there I was a part of every single plan to eliminate people. I wasn't a part of her plan. That night, I knew it was going to be me or Susie. Everyone was telling me to relax and be calm. When tribal council was going on, a lot of the questions were coming my way, that usually means that you're going to get voted off.

Ryan (Fort Lauderdale FL)

Ken, are you attending Matty's wedding?

Ken Hoang

(4:14 PM)

Actually, after the show, I am very good friends with Crystal. I'm good friends with Crystal, Matty, Randy, Ace. I get along with everyone, I'd say. I don't talk too much with the older people. I talk to everybody. There are some group of people that don't want to talk to you after the show because you don't have anything in common. I get along with the people I want to get along with and they call me from time to time.

Sean (Arleta, CA)

Have you been approached to do anything else related to television or reality based?

Ken Hoang

(4:15 PM)

When I got back, you can't really do anything until the show is over. I haven't gotten any calls about contracts. I'm hoping they call. I would like to do something, charity related or anything like it. We'll see what's down the road.

Phil (San Jose, CA)

Do you think you have a shot at getting a spot on a future season of Survivor All-Stars considering how you played?

Ken Hoang

(4:16 PM)

I would like to think I have a great shot, but I don't know how they pick their people from all stars. Maybe it would be Sugar or Matty or Bob. But I would love to do it again if they asked me to do it.

Richard (Palm Beach FL)

How did you end up being good friends with Randy when you seemed to be at odds with him during the show?

Ken Hoang

(4:17 PM)

To tell you the truth, Randy and I didn't have a beef with each other. The first few days, he was a jerk. That's just the way he is. He didn't like GC from the beginning. I was tagging along with GC and he didn't like him. But we talked after GC got voted off. We got along, but he was my enemy because we were in different groups. After we got back from Ponderosa, we talked some more and got along great. We still talk.

Ken Hoang

(4:21 PM)

I would just like to say thanks for watching Survivor and for your support. I hope you're big Survivor fans, because I am one. Tune into the next season, it should be good. Survivor: Tocantins starts on Feb. 12.